Pipe testing machine



Oct. 15, 1935. J. J BOAX- ET AL 2,017,393

PIPE TESTING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN J 5042?and JOHN '4. .M/LLEE.

oct. 15, 1935. J; J BQAX r AL 2,017,393

PIPE TESTING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 H bwenfo'rs:JOHN .f 50 436 and JOHN H- MILLER.

Oct; 15, 1935. J BQAX ETALV 2,017,393

PIPE TESTING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1934 GSheets-Sheet 3 lawenlors:JOHN J 504x and JOHN ,4. M/LLEE.

Oct. 15, 1935. J. J. BOAX ET AL PIPE TESTING MACHINE Filed April 16,1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 JOHN J 504.36 40d JOHN fi. M/LLE/Q Oct. 15, 1935,BQAX ETAL PIPE TESTING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 DM- &

5 we x5 4 e% m5 114 J W Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE PIPE TE STING MACHINE Application April 16, 1934, Serial No.720,868

3 Claims.

This invention is an improved pipe testing machine, one of the objectsbeing to automatically test pipes with hydraulic pressures. Otherobjects may be inferred.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a pipe testing machine embodying the featuresof the invention.

Figure 2 is' a side view.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views showing details of the opposite endsof this machine.

Figures 5 and 6 are views taken from Figure 2 at the lines V-V andVI-VI.

Figure 7 is an enlargement from Figure 3.

A hollow horizontal shaft I revolves in bearings mounted by pedestals 2and has keyed to it two or more rotary carriers 3 peripherally providedwith pockets 4 arranged in lateral alinement for thehorizontal carriageof the pipes to be tested.

Clamps 5 are pivoted on these carriers adjacent 20 the pockets 4 and areswung into engagement with pipes therein by levers 6. Segmental cams 1are fixed in the paths of these levers 6 to swing the clamps intopipe-engaging positions. Springs 8 swing the clamps away from the pipeswhen 35 the levers 6 are free from the cams I.

The pipes to be tested are fed to the rotary the clamps 5 intoengagement with the pipes until declining skids I2, on the other side ofthe machine, are reached, when the levers become free In from these camsso that the springs 8 can effect release of the pipes which then rolldown these last skids.

Rotary mounts I3 and I3 are fixed to the extreme ends of the shaft I. Itmay now be ap- 425' preciated that the machine includes spaced rotarymounts arranged in axial alinement and rotary carriers arranged betweenthese mounts in axial alinement therewith and constructed for thehorizontal carriage of the pipes to be tested. Now an important featureof the invention is that one of these mounts carries means for sealingthe ends of pipes carried by these carriers while the other mountcarries means for injecting fiuid under pressure into the opposite endsof 55 the pipes while also sealing the same. A further feature is thatvarious means are provided for controlling the just described meanswhereby the latters operations are automatically effected during thetime the pipes are traveling from the skids 9 to the skids I2.

Continuing, the rotary mount I3includes bored bosses I4 arrangedinalinement with the pipe carrying pockets 4 of the carriers 3. Thesebosses mount reciprocable heads I5 which are moved in one direction bysprings I6 and in the other by a 10 cam I'I fixed adjacent thereto.These heads may be positively moved by the cams alone if so desired.

An annular chamber I8 is fixed to the shaft I and communicates with thelatters interior by way of a pipe I9.

The reciprocable heads I5 are hollow and removably mount parts or capsin which are recesses 2|. Gaskets 22 are arranged in these recesses andpipe-receiving elements 23 are re- 20 movably retained in these recessesand serve to clamp the gaskets 22 to the parts 20. The elements 23 maybe screwed into the recesses 2| for this purpose. The recesses 2|communicate with the interior of the heads I5 by way of bores 24 25 andthe gaskets 22 are centrally open so as not to close these bores. Theelements 23 have outwardly flared bores whose smaller diameters just fitthe pipes being tested, while the gaskets 22 and the bores 24 are ofdiameters substantially the same as the inside diameters of these pipes.

Features of this particular construction are that the gaskets are firmlyclamped in place so as not to be easily deformed, and the parts 20 maybe removed and substituted by others constructed to fit other sizes ofpipes.

The parts 20 may be screw-threaded into the heads I5 and the latter maybe constructed to provide annular spaces 25 therebetween into whichmetallic packings 26 may be placed,

Equal-lengthed pipes 21 open into the annular chamber I8 andindividually extend horizontally into the hollow heads I5. It is for thepurpose of slidably sealing the space between these heads and pipes thatthe metallic packing 26 is provided. Valves 28 are individuallyinterposed in the pipes 21. When fluid under testing pressure isadmitted to the hollow shaft I by way of a connection 29, it will flowinto the chamber I8 and through the pipes 21, these valves 28controlling this flow.

A circular cam 3|] is fixed adjacent the rotative path of the valves2-8, the latter being providedwith three-armed levers 3| arranged toopen and close them. The cam 30 includes de- ,pressions 30"- whichpermit the ends of these three-armed levers 3| to swing when operatingthe valves, this cam otherwise positively holding the valves in eitheropen or closed positions. A cam segment 32 can be swung into the path ofanother one of the arms of these levers 3| by a lever 33 which is movedby the pipes being moved by the carriers 3. A spring 34 normally holdsthis cam 32 in an inoperative position. When the cam 32 is swung by thelever 33, it cooperates with one of the arms of the levers 3| and thecam 30 to throwthe valves to open positions, the cam 30 holding thevalves in this position until another arm of the levers 3| is engaged bya second fixed cam 35 which cooperates therewith and with the cam 30 toclose the valves. The remaining surface of the cam 30 then cooperateswith the levers 3| to hold the valves in closed positions.

Horizontal cylinders 36 are carried by .the mount l3 in alinement withthe pipes being moved by the carriers 3. Double acting pistons 31 arearranged in these cylinders and are connected by piston rods 38 tooutwardly flared pipe guides 39. Gaskets 40 are arranged in the centersof these guides in a manner similar to those previously described,excepting that these are not open. This arrangement provides rams whichfunction to push the pipes being moved by the carriers 3 against theheads l5 while at the remote ends of the cylinders 36, this chamber 4|communicating with the hollow shaft by way of a pipe 44 and anadjustable pressure reducing valve 45. The valves 28' are associatedwith a fixed cam 30, are provided with three-armed operating levers 3|,and are generally similarly arranged as are those previously described.Therefore, these parts are given the same numbers as were the others,excepting that they are primed for identification purposes.

Any means may be provided for turning the shaft the drawings showing amotor 46 driving through a gear box 41.

The operation of the machine will now be described. I

Assume that fluid, under a testing pressure considered proper for thesize and character of the pipes being tested, has been admitted to thehollow shaft by way of the connection 29. There will be no fluiddischarging through the heads l5 as yet because all of the valves 28will be closed. As pipes are fed down the skids 3 and singly laid intothe pockets 4 of the carriers 3 by the wheels Ill, operation proper ofthe machine will commence.

As the first of the pipes being moved by the carriers 3 strikes thelever 33', one of the valves 28 will be opened so that fluid is admittedfrom the chamber 4| to the proper one of the cylinders 36. This drivesthe guide 39 forwardly so that it engages this pipe and pushes itlongitudinally against the proper one of the heads l5, the latter beingnow reciprocated and held forwardly by the cam I1. This cam isconstructed so that this latter operation is effected prior to openingof the valve 28'.

The adjustable valve 45 is regulated so that the 5 pressure in thechamber 39 is just sufilcient to effect proper sealing of the pipewithout causing it to buckle. This regulation is, of course, affectedaccording to the relative sizes and characters of the pipes beingtested. 10

The first pipe is now firmly clamped, the gasket 40 in the guide 39effectively sealing one of its ends while its other end is firmly sealedagainst the gasket 22 where it has been centered by the member 23. Thelever 33 is so positioned 15 that about this time it is tripped by thepipe, this throwing the cam 32 against that one of the three-armedlevers 3| which is associated with the valve effecting communication tothe head now engaged by the pipe end. This causes the 20 valve to openso that the testing fluid is admitted to the pipe.

The pipe is now maintained under pressure for a definite time which isregulated by the speed with which the shaft is rotating. 25

The next operation to occur is the closing of the valve 28 bycooperation of the cam 35 and the levers 3|. This releases the pressurein the pipe so that it is now safe to remove it from the machine.Therefore, the cam 30' is arranged to now 30 contact the lever system 3|of the valve 28'. This releases the pressure behind the piston 31 sothat the pressure existing in the chamber 4| can return it to itsstarting position. The piston is originally able to advance upon openingof 35 the valve 42 for the reason that the piston rod 38 is sufficientlylarge to effect a pressure differential. It is to be noted that thevalves 28 and 28 are three-way valves having discharge open,-

ings 48 and 48', whereby the pressure reliefs 0 mentioned may beaccommodated.

Also, the cam I1 is constructed so that it effects rearwardreciprocation of the head at about this time, and the cams 1 areconstructed to now relieve the levers 6 so that the pipe is unclamped 45and is entirely free to roll down the declined skids l2 and away fromthe machine.

With the foregoing operation of the machine understood as regards itsoperation on one pipe. its complete operation is also understood. The lovarious valves are successively opened and closed; in the mannerdescribed, and the various clamps; are successively clamped andunclamped to perform their intended function. Everything is automatic,and the machine requires the attention as of only one man to watch forleakers. v

One feature not particularly noted before is the advantages resultingfrom the use of a plurality of heads arranged radially about a centralcham-. her and connected thereto by equal-lengthed 5o pipes. Thisresults in the application of absolutely equal pressures to all thepipes. One of; the dr awbacks of most gang pipe testing machines hasbeen the inability to apply equal pressures to all the pipes in a gang.35

A further feature to be noted is the fact that none of the levers 3|will be operated by the lever 33 if no pipes are carried by the carriers3, and that only that one of these levers will be operated whichcontrols the valve of a head actually 70 registering witha pipe.

Although a specific example of the invention is disclosed in accordancewith the patent statutes,

his not intended that the scope of the invention be limited thereto,except as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A- pipe testing machine including the combination of spaced rotarymounts arranged in axial alinement, rotary carriers arranged betweensaid mounts in axial alinement therewith and constructed for thehorizontal carriage of the pipes to be tested, bored reciprocable headsarranged on one of said mounts for registration with pipes carried bysaid carriers, means including individual valves for said heads forsupplying the .latter with fluid under testing pressure, reciprocablerams arranged on the other of said mounts for registration with saidpipes, fluid motors individually .operatively associated with said rams,means including individual valves for said motors for supplying thelatter with operating fluid, means for successively opening the secondnamed valves as said pipes are moved past a predetermined position bysaid carriers, means for thereafter successively opening the first namedvalves, means for successively reciprocating said heads towards saidpipes prior to the opening of the first named valves, means forsuccessively closing the first named valves as said pipes are moved pasta second'predetermined point by said carriers, means for thereaftersuccessively closing the second named valves, and means for successiveiyreciprocating said heads away from said pipes after the first namedvalves are closed.

- 2. A pipe testing machine including the combination of a hollowhorizontal shaft, circular carriers arranged on said shaft andconstructed to, peripherally carry the pipes to be tested in horizontalpositions, a circular mount arranged on-said shaft so as to be adjacentthe ends of pipes carried by said carriers, an annular chamber fixed onsaid shaft and communicating with its interior, hollow headsreciprocably carried by said mount for registration with said pipes tobe the space between said heads and said pipes, a 5

fixed circular cam arranged adjacent said heads, means forreciprocatively associating said heads with said cam, valvesindividually interposed in said pipes, a second circular fixed cam,means for operatively associating said valves with said second cam andmeans for closing the other ends of said pipes to be tested during theperiods said heads are reciprocated toward the first named ends of saidpipes to be tested.

3. A pipe testing machine including the combination of a hollowhorizontal shaft, circular carriers arranged on said shaft andconstructed to peripherally carry the pipes to be tested in horizontalpositions, a circular mount arranged on said shaft so as to be adjacentthev ends of pipes carried by said carriers, an annularbhamber fixed onsaid shaft, cylinders carried by said mount in alinement with saidpipes, double-acting pistons in said cylinders, rams operated by saidpistons, pipes individually connecting said chamber with the ends ofsaid cylinders adjacent said pipes to be tested, other pipesindividually connecting said chamber with the opposite ends of said cylfinders, valves individually interposed in said other pipes, a fixedcircular cam, means for operatively associating said valves with saidcam, means including a pressure reducing valve for connecting saidchamber with the interior of said shaft and means which cooperate withthe other ends of said pipes to be tested when the i latter are thrusttheretowards by action of said rams for introducing testing fluid tosaid pipes to be tested, said rams functioning to close the first namedends of said pipes to be tested.

JOHN J. BOAX. JOHN A. MILLER.

